I am a 5'3" female looking for a new bike. I need one that I can ride on pavement, tow paths, rails-to-trails,etc. I am not interested in disc brakes. Not sure if I need a rigid fork or not. I have rode the Neko, the Trek 7.2, and the Ariel. Going to check out the Rove 3 soon. Is there any real advantage to one bike over the others? Service at both LBS seems about the same. I would welcome thoughts and suggestions.

7.2 is more a road hybrid. Neko, Ariel, Rove all look better suited for off road. It all depends on what you ride most often. In a pinch, you can ride a trail bike on pavement, or a street bike on dirt or gravel.

That said, If you ride mostly pavement, the 7.2, specialized vita, or Giant escape 2 or Escape 1 might be better than a trail bike. Lighter, and more responsive.